CURRENT AFFAIRS | 9 APRIL 2026
CLAT GK + INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & LAW
Khurshid & Deshpande: “Crisis Needs a National Approach — Talk to the Opposition”
In a significant Ideas page article in The Indian Express, former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and policy analyst Pushparaj Deshpande argue that India’s response to the West Asia crisis must transcend partisan politics and adopt a unified national approach. Their analysis paints a sobering picture of the interconnected threats facing India’s energy security, economic stability, and strategic autonomy.
The West Asia Crisis: Multiple Dimensions
The interim cessation of hostilities in West Asia has sparked hopes for the restoration of free flow of energy, people, trade, and capital. However, the authors identify several “cross-winds” that threaten lasting peace:
- UNSC Paralysis: The veto power of permanent members has prevented effective multilateral response
- Economic Sanctions: Cascading impact on global trade and energy markets
- Humanitarian Crisis: 3.63 million people have fallen into food insecurity
- Great-Power Competition: West Asia has emerged as another theatre in the US-China rivalry
The Monroe Doctrine in West Asia
The authors draw a provocative parallel to the Monroe Doctrine — the 1823 US policy that declared the Western Hemisphere off-limits to European powers. They argue that the White House’s 2025 National Security Strategy effectively applies a similar doctrine to West Asia, with the US vehemently reconfiguring the global balance of power.
Part of this strategy involves choking China’s energy supply lines through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb — two critical maritime chokepoints through which a significant portion of global oil trade passes.
India’s Energy Vulnerability
The crisis hits India particularly hard because of its extreme energy dependence:
- India imports 85% of its crude oil, primarily from West Asian countries
- Rising crude oil prices directly cause rupee depreciation
- A widening current account deficit strains India’s balance of payments
- The RBI’s monetary policy response (interest rate adjustments) affects domestic growth
The authors note that the Trump administration sees Iran as a springboard for a multi-front currency/defense operation, which could further destabilize the region and India’s energy supplies.
India’s Response: Non-Aligned, Independent, Freedom of Navigation
Khurshid and Deshpande argue that India’s response must be:
- Independent: Not tethered to any great-power bloc
- Non-aligned: Drawing on India’s NAM traditions
- Freedom of navigation: Protecting India’s maritime interests in critical sea lanes
The path to peace is “littered with potential shipwrecks” — and India must conduct a clear-eyed assessment of its strategic interests rather than be swayed by ideological alignments.
Strait of Hormuz: The World’s Most Critical Chokepoint
Under UNCLOS Article 38, the right of transit passage through international straits is guaranteed. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, and approximately 20% of global oil trade passes through it. Any disruption here would have catastrophic consequences for India’s economy.
Similarly, Bab-el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is critical for trade between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal.
⚖️ Constitutional & Legal Framework
- Article 51 DPSP: Promote international peace and security, foster respect for international law
- UNCLOS Article 38: Right of transit passage through straits used for international navigation
- Monroe Doctrine (1823): US policy opposing foreign intervention — now being applied to West Asia
- Energy Security: Not explicitly in Constitution but treated as national interest under DPSP framework
- CBDR (Common But Differentiated Responsibilities): Principle in international environmental law
- Current Account Deficit: Balance of payments concept — imports exceed exports
- UNSC Veto Power: Art 27(3) UN Charter — P5 members can block substantive resolutions
🎯 Why This Matters for CLAT 2027
- GK/Current Affairs: West Asia crisis is a top-priority topic — know Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, and India’s 85% oil import dependence
- Legal Reasoning: UNCLOS transit passage rights, Monroe Doctrine parallels, and UNSC veto mechanism are all testable in principle-application format
- Logical Reasoning: Economic cause-effect chains (oil price rise → rupee fall → CAD widening → RBI response) are excellent for inference questions
- Reading Comprehension: Op-ed arguments about non-alignment vs strategic alignment are perfect CLAT passage material
📋 Key Facts at a Glance
| Authors | Salman Khurshid & Pushparaj Deshpande |
| Oil Import Dependence | India imports 85% of crude oil |
| Key Chokepoints | Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb |
| Humanitarian Impact | 3.63 million fell into food insecurity |
| UNCLOS Provision | Article 38 — transit passage through international straits |
| Monroe Doctrine | 1823 US policy — now paralleled in West Asia strategy |
🧠 Mnemonic to Remember
“HORMUZ CRISIS”: Hormuz Strait (critical chokepoint), Oil imports 85%, Rupee depreciation risk, Monroe Doctrine parallel, UNCLOS Art 38 (transit passage), Zero UNSC consensus — CAD widens, RBI responds, India’s non-alignment, Salman Khurshid editorial, Iran as flashpoint, Strategic autonomy needed.
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